After a time of difficult discernment, and in dialogue with the Hogwarts Board of Governors, the congregational leadership has decided to formally end the KentHogwarts ministry.
Started by Becky Haines and other volunteers back in the 2000’s, the program had been our UU version of Vacation Church School. Hundreds of children and youth got to experience a magical world that was steeped in UU values over the past two decades. Versions of our Hogwarts program travelled to General Assembly, Summer Institute, and were adapted by other UU Churches!
A dedicated core of volunteers kept this amazing program going for more than 20 years. Sadly, the energy to keep the program running has dwindled over recent years, it lost momentum during the pandemic (and never fully recovered), and the author–disappointingly–has made statements that are counter to UU values, distressing many of our youth and young adults.
We can celebrate that we had over twenty years of an amazing program, and are sad that it is ending, but the time to end has come.
There is going to be an opportunity for current and former Professors and other volunteers to gather on Saturday, February 8 to share stories, etc. Contact [email protected] and they will email you details.
There are tentative plans by the Kent Hogwarts Board of Governors to have another time later in the year for participants and volunteers to share memories and celebrate the magic we created together! Please stay tuned!
We thank the current Board of Governors for their grace and care for the KentHogwarts community during this difficult transition.
With love and care for the community,
Colleen Thoele, Director of Religious Education
Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, Affiliated Community Minister
